Machine for forming uppers of boots and shoes.



L. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED 111111311914.

1,120,680. Patented Dec. 15,1914.

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LOUIS IE. BROVIN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

NEW' JERSEY.

A CORPORATION OF MACHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed March 31', 1914. Serial No. 828,506.

To all who m 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS M. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Forming Uppers of Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines used in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the purpose of forming the upper materials, or portions thereof, in substantially the shape desired for the finished shoe before the upper has been brought into assembled relation to the materials that constitute the bottom portions of the shoe. Machines of this class are applicable to the manufacture of shoes of dilferent types, but find their principal use at the present time in the manufacture of stitch-down shoes, in which the upper is provided with an outturned flange to receive the stitches or other fastenings by which the upper is secured to the sole. Such machines are disclosed, for example, in U. S. Letters Patent No. 998,682, granted to Karl Engel, July 25, 1911, and in the pending application of Karl Engel and Louis M. Brown, Serial No. 464:,559, filed Nov. 27, 1908. i

The respective machines described in the patent and the application above mentioned include, among other features, provision for shaping the forepart of the upper, and according to the practice therein disclosed, the marginal portion of the upper at the toe end is confined between members that impart the necessary pressure to form the at the margin movements in suitable directions and of sufficient extent to meet substantially the demands of the toe former and insure the formation of a smooth toe without subjecting any portion of the material to excessive strains.

This invention, in its more particular aspect, relates to mechanism fol-shaping the forepart or toe portion of shoe uppers, and especially to mechanism such as referred to above for guiding and imparting to the clamped marginal portion of the blank the requisite compensating movement.

An object is to effect improvements in mechanism hitherto employed or proposed for this purpose, and to'insure positive control and suitable movement of the blank margin to produce a smooth and well formed toe of the desired shape.

An'important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a. plurality of members for engaging the margin of the blank movable forwardly one in advance of another to direct the blank engaging means of the different members in a path that forms a curve about the body of the blank. The path of movement of the engaging members will preferably and for the best results correspond substantially to the contour of the edge of the clamped margin of the blank. \Vith this arrangement the engaged material at the margin will be moved forwardly around the toe portion and toward the end of the toe where the greatest excess of material is required.

A further feature resides in a series of blank engaging members with provision for movement of different members of the series successively through movement imparted initially to one of the members. In the preferred embodiment the members C0111.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

prise slides which are arranged in the manner of a series of links with provision forlimited relative endwise movements of different links of the series, and the rearmost members of the series are connected with resilient means for positioning the series of links normally in extended relation. For

effecting the forward movement of the marginal portion of the material and effecting a forward movement thereof at the same time toward the toe end of the blank. For limiting the rearward extension of the series of links or slides the invention provides.

means for limiting positively the movement of one or moreof the slides at an intermediate point iii'the series. The operating means for the rearmost slides includes also preferablyprovision for adjustment to vary relatively the extent of forward movement of the slides at. opposite sides of the device, so as to effect, if desired, a relatively greater forward or gathering movement of portions of the margin of the blank at one side.

A further feature comprises means for engaging and fixing in position a portion of the margin of the blank, preferably at the toe end, so as to avoid the possibility of undue bodily displacement of the blank during the subsequent gathering and compensatin'g movement of other portions of the present invention.

the margin.

The above and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be described with reference to the accompany-ing drawings and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in mechanism suitable for use as part of the machine shown and described in the pending application before referred to, only such portions of the machine being shown herein as are necessary for an understanding of It will be understood, however, that with obvious mechanical changes the mechanism shown may be adapted for use in apparatus such as illustrated in I the above mentioned patent to Karl Engel, or in other machines or apparatus of the like general class, and that the invention is not limited in its application to machines of any particular specific construction. p I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the material engaging side of a clamp member in which the invention is embodied, together with a toe former and mechanism through which operative movement 1S imparted to the blank engaglng a of the toe forming operation, and illustrating the effect of the operation upon the upper materials, the cooperating upper clamp member being omitted for the sake of clearn'ess. Fig. l is a detail view of two of the material engaging slides. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of an intermediate portion of the mechanism. a

A-clamp member in which the features of the invention are embodied is designated generally bythe numeral 2. It will be understood that in use in the machine this member cooperates with another clamp member to confine or clamp the marginal portion of atoe blank or of the forepart of upper materials during the toe forming operation. The member 2 in the illustrated embodiment is the lower clamp member, or that member which engages the bottom sur-, face of the blank. In the broader aspects of the invention, however, it is immaterial in which of the clamp members certain features are embodied except as the choice is determined by the desire to avoid injuring the upper or exposed surface of the mar ginal portion of the blank.

The clamp member 2 is recessed at one side to provide suitable space for the operation of the toe, former 4, and the walls of this recess are cut backwardly at the upper side to form a path. or guideway 6 for those portions of the clamp member which operate to impart compensating movement to the margin of the blank. Projecting upwardly at the forward portion of this guide. is a stationary pin 8 which is embraced by a block or slide 10 shaped to. conform substantiallyto the curvature of the guideway and formed with an elongated slot 12 in which the pin 8 is received, as seen best in Fig. 5. The slide 10 is thus movable endwise, along the guideway a limited distance determined by the length of the slot 12., Slidably mounted in the guideway on either side of the slide 10 are a plurality of slides M s milarly curved to conform to the curvature of the guideway, the series of slides terminating at the rear of the from rising upwardly from the pathway 6. Lateral movement of the slides and 14: is further prevented by pins 22 depending therefrom and engaging in grooves 24: in the clamp member, and the slides 16 are restrained from similar movement by stationary pins 26 which engage in grooves 27 in these slides. This arrangement of pins and grooves, it will be evident, serves in cooperation with the form of the guideway 6 to determine the path of movement of. the slides. Preferably and as shown the slides are guided for movement in a path that conforms substantially to the contour of the edge of the blank when the latter is in its clamped position.

The slides above described are provided severally with projecting pins :28 which are pointed for engagement with the material to be operated upon so as to impart the required movement to the material, the slides 16 carrying two such pins for more effective engagement. Each of the series of slides at either side of the member 10 is provided also with a forwardly projecting portion 30 which is formed to project over the top of the slide next in advance thereof and is provided with an elongated slot 32 to embrace the pin 28 thereon, or, in the case of that slide which is seen at the left of the member 10 in the drawings, to embrace the stationary pin 8. lVith this arrangement, as will be evident, the slides are arranged in the manner of links with provision for relative movements of the diiferent links toward and from one another within limits determined by the length of the slots 32 and in one direction likewise, in the preferred construction shown, by contact of the adjacent end faces of the slides and the ends of the raised portions 30 thereon. Extension of the series is effected by outward movement of the rear slides 16, and in order to maintain the series normally in extended or separated relation, as shown in Fig. 1, the slides 16 are forced to their rearmost position by springs 34 seated in sockets in the member 2 and operating upon plungers 36 which contact with pins 88 on the slides, the stationary pin 8 serving to limit rearward movements of the series on both sides of the device.

For imparting to the slides their forward or operative movements a pair of pushers are provided, comprising screws 40 threaded through ears on a carrier 42, the construction and operative relation of which to other portions of the machine are more fully disclosed in the pending application previously referred to. For an understanding of the present invention it is sufficient to state that the carrier 42 is moved forwardly simultaneously with the forward toe forming movement of the toe former 4, whereby the ends of the pushers 4:0 contact with the slides 16 and impart forward movement thereto. When these slides have moved forwardly a short distance they come into conblank and thereby to vary the amount of gatherin or compensating movement of the margin of the blank, while the screws may be ad usted relatively to vary the relative amount of such movement at opposite sides of the blank or with reference to the stationary pin 8.

The upper surfaces of the slides 16 and of the projections 30 on the slides 1% are substantially in the plane of the surface of the plate 20, so that when the slides are closed up the clamp member presents a substantially plane upper surface above which project the pins 28, and likewise preferably the stationary pin 8 which is also pointed so as to engage and fix the position of the margin of the materials at the tee end. This pin, however, may be arranged if desired to perform simply its limiting function with reference to the movement of the slides without en aging the material.

The operation of the described mechanism follows the insertion and clamping between the member 2 and its complementary clamp member of the marginal portion of the inaterials comprising the toe blank. The toe former a is then raised and together with the carrier 42 is moved forwardly to mold or shape the toe. This movement of the toe former causes a pull upon the margin of the materials suflicient to cause, by reason of the engagement of the material with the projections 28, same forward movement of the slides. The provision of the pushers d0, however, anticipates this effect and insures a positive and uniform compensating movement of the margin of the materials without undue strain incident to the operation of the toe former. The rear slides 16 are first ad vanced, carrying forwardly the rear portion of the blank margin, and the other slides are brought into operation successively through the succession of contacts between the diii'erent slides, the parts finally assuming the positions indicated in Fig. 3 in which, it will be noted, the slides have closed up and the foremost member 10 of the series has been moved to'position the stationary pin at 8 at a point midway of the slot in this member. It will be understood, however, that on relative adjustment of the pushers 40 so as to move the series of slides relatively farther forward at one side or the other,

the pin 8 would occupy a position nearer one end or the other of the slot in the slide 10 at the end of operative movement of the slides. The pin 8, it will be evident, serve to iii; the position of the margin of the materials at the toe end so as to prevent bodily displacement of the blank during the toe forming operation, and the marginal portions of the materials are gathered between the pins 28 on adjacent slides and also between the stationary pin 8 and the pins 28 at opposite sides thereof.

After the operations above described the different parts of the mechanism are retained in toe shaping relation a sufficient time to permit the materials to set in the form in which they have been molded. T he toe former and the carrier 4-2 are then retracted and the clamp members separated so as to release the work, thereby permitting the slides to be returned to the positions indicated in Fig. 1 through the operation of the springs 34:.

Although the invention has been described as embodied in mechanism in which the slides have their operative movement simultaneouslywith the operative movement of the toe former, it should be understood that in the broader aspects of the invention it is immaterial at what particular time the compensating movement is imparted to the marginal portion of the materials and that provision for the operation of the slides before the operation of the toe former is within the scope of the invention.

The term blank or toe blank used in the claims is to be understood as referring generally to materials adapted for use in forming the toe portion of a boot or shoe, such, for example, as the forepart or vamp portion of an assembled shoe upper, or other like articles of manufacture. i

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

'1. In toe shaping apparatus, movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, and means for imparting movement successively to the different members in'a direction to cause said blank engaging means to move in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank.

2. In toe shaping a paratus, movable members arranged in a series and having portions formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank, and means for imparting movement to different members of the series successively to cause said blank engaging portions to move forwardly in the same direction in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank.

3. ln apparatus for shaping shoe uppers, movable members formed to engage the marginal portion of the upper materials and arranged to extend in series from the toe end rearwardly along one side edge of the upper, and means for causing first one and then a plurality of said members to move simultaneously toward the toe end of the upper.

i. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members each having a portion formed to engage the margin of the blank, and means for guiding said members to direct the blank engaging portions thereof for movement in the same direction one in advance of another in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank.

5. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank, and means for guiding said members for movement forwardly in the same direction in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank.

6. In apparatus for shaping atoe blank, a plurality of movable members formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank, means for guiding said members for movement in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank, and means for imparting movement in said path to different members successively. I

7. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of members provided severally with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and movable bodily in a blank, said members havingprovision also for relative movement in said path to vary the distance between their respective blank engaging means.

path forming a curve about the body of the 8. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, I

a plurality of members formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank and relatively movable to vary the distance therebetween, and means for effecting'relative movement of adjacent members to gather the material and subsequently moving said adjacent members together to carry the gathered portion of the material toward the toe end of the blank.

9. ln apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a series of members formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank and relatively movable to vary the distance between adjacent members of the series, and means for effecting relative movement of two adjacent men'ibers of the series to gather the material and for subsequently movmg said members together toward the toe end of the blank while effecting relative gathering movement of other members of the series.

10. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank,

members arranged to engage the marginal portion of the blank at a plurality of points along the edge of the blank to feed the ma terial forwardly toward the toe end of the blank, and means for imparting feeding movements in succession to said members respectively which are located at points successively nearer to the toe end of the blank. 11. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of members provided with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend one in advance of another in a series along the blank margin, said members being relatively movable and movable also forwardly in the same direction toward the toe end of the blank and having provision for said forward movement of one member of the series through contact therewith of another member of the series located at the rear thereof. 12. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend forwardly in a series along one side edge of the blank toward the toe end of the blank, said members being movable in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank and having provision for movement of different members of the series through movement of the respective members located in the rear thereof.

13. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a series of relatively movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, each of said members being movable to bring a portion thereof into engagement with that member of the series which is located forwardly thereof in the direction of the toe end of the blank, and means for imparting movement to the rearmost member of the series to cause said engagements of the different members successively.

14. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of relatively movable members provided severally with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend in a series along one side edge of the blank toward the toe end thereof, means for imparting forward movement to the rearmost member of the series, and means for effecting operative movements of the other members of the series successively during the forward movement of said rearmost member.

15. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend in series around the toe end of the blank and toward the-rear of the blank on each side, means for imparting forward movement to the rearmost members of the series, and means for effecting operative movements of other members of the series successively during the forward movement of said rearmost members.

16. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of relatively movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend rearwardly in series from the toe end of the blank on each side thereof, each of said members being movable to bring a portion thereof into engagement with a portion of that member of the series which is located forwardly thereof in the direction of the toe end of the blank, means for positioning said members normally with said engaging portions in separated relation, and means for imparting movement to the rearmost members of the series to cause said engagements of the different members successively.

17. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of relatively movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend rearwardly in series from the toe end of the blank on each side thereof, each of said members being movable to bring a portion thereof into engagement with a portion of that member of the series which is located forwardly thereof in the direction of the toe end of the blank, means for positioning said members normally with said engaging portions in separated relation, and means for imparting movement to the rearmost members of the series to cause said engagements of different members successively, said last named means including provision for adjustment to vary the amount of movement imparted to one of said rearmost members of the series with respect to that imparted to the other.

18. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged to extend in a series rearwardly from the toe end of the blank, and connections between said members arranged to permit limited relative movements thereof to bring portions of adjacent members into separated relation.

19. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and arranged end to end in a series extending rearwardly from the toe end of the blank, connections between said members arranged to permit limited relative endwise movements thereof, and resilient means connected with the rearmost member of the series for positioning said members normally with their end faces in relatively distant relation.

20. In a clamp for operating upon the margin of a toe blank or the like, a support comprising a series of margin engaging members having provision for movement of different members of the series successively through movement imparted initially to one member of the series.

21. In apparatus of the class described, a series of margin engaging clamp members, and lost motion connections between successive members of the series whereby a limited initial separation and a margin gathering action of said members are permitted.

22. In apparatus of the class described, a series of margin engaging members having provision for movement of one member through movement 01" another member of the series, and lost motion connections between said members whereby movements of different members may be effected in succession.

23. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members arranged in a series and each having means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, and pin and slot connections between successive members of the series arranged to permit limited relative movements of said members.

24. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of movable members arranged in a series and each having a projection formed to engage the marginal portion of the blank and also a slotted portion formed to embrace a similar projection upon an ad jacent member of the series so as to limit movements of said members relatively to one another.

25. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a clamp member having blank engaging portions movable in a path curved to correspond substantially to the contour of the edge of the clamped margin of the blank, and having provision for relative movements in said path of the blank engaging portions located between the rear part of the clamp member and the toe end on one side. 7

26. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a clamp member having a plurality of slides movable thereon forwardly in the same direction and each provided with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, and pin and slot connections between said slides and other portions of the clamp member for directing movement of said slides in a path forming a curve about the body of the blank.

27. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, means for fixing the position of the margin of the blank at the toe end, and means for moving other portions of the blank margin toward said fixed portion to gather the material at opposite sides of said positioning means.

28. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, means for fixing the position of the margin of the blank at the toe end, means for moving other portions of the blank toward said fixed portion to gather the material, and

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terial at opposite sides of said positioning means.

29. In apparatus for shaping a toe' blank, a clamp member having means for engaging and fixing the position of a portion of the margin of the blank at the toeend, and a plurality of blank engaging members movable relatively to said positioning means and to one another for imparting relative movements to other portions of the margin of the blank.

30. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a series of links provided severally with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and connected to permit limited relative endwise movements thereof, means for guiding said links for movement in a' predetermined path, and means for imparting movement to an end link of the series to bring other links successively into operation;

31. In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a plurality of links provided severally with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank and connected to permit limited relative endwise movements thereof, said links being arranged to extend-in a seriesrearwardly from the toe end of the blank,

means for moving the series of links to eX-- tended relation, and means for limiting the movement of a link at the toe end to limit rearward movement of the series. I

In apparatus for shaping a toe blank, a clamp member having a plurality of slides provided severally with means for engaging the marginal portion of the blank andarranged to extend in series around the toe LOUIS M. BROWN.

lVitnesses Cnnsrnn E. ltoenns, LILLIAN B. DUPEE.

Washington, D. G. 

